Entries in agriculture and emergencies
(22)

How can relief and development programs promote resilience in regions that experience recurrent crises? The six case studies in this document describe some of the ways that CRS has responded to the following challenges in the Horn of Africa:

During the next five years, we and our partners will
provide a "pathway to prosperity" for 2 million rural
households, or 12 million people. We will help them
Recover, Build and Grow to achieve prosperous and
resilient agricultural livelihoods.

This brief describes how CRS' Wellness and Agriculture for Life Advancement (WALA) program is helping reduce food insecurity in almost 215,000 chronically food insecure households in Southern Malawi. WALA is a 5-year integrated food security program funded by USAID's Food for Peace and managed by a consortium of nine NGOs, led by CRS.

Toward Resilience is an introductory resource for staff of development and humanitarian
organizations that are working with people whose lives and rights are threatened by disasters
and climate change. The guide provides

Farmers in El Salvador are adapting to climate change by adopting new livelihood strategies. Farmer Field Schools in eight communities have helped farmers select appropriate seed varieties, stock a community seed bank, micro-irrigate their crops and improve an early warning system.

In Honduras, Catholic Relief Services helped communities adapt to climate change by teaching them about drought-resistant crops, installing meteorological stations and assisting with an early warning system.

Food vouchers, as well as Local and Regional Procurement programs, are assuming greater importance as alternatives to traditional food aid. CRS commissioned a study to analyze the effects of food vouchers and procurement programs in Project ADVANCE, which CRS implemented in Niger between August and October 2010.

This document presents the initial reflections of a working group on “Targeted Seed Aid and Seed-System Interventions: Strengthening Small Farmer Seed Systems in East and Central Africa", held in Uganda in 2001. Individuals from 11 institutions joined together to compare and contrast practical experiences on supporting farmers’ seed systems, particularly in times of severe stress. The workshop and report were funded by USAID. CRS contributed one chapter.

The recent flooding in Pakistan has been a disaster for farmers. Many families lost their crops as well as their homes, seed stores, stables and livestock. Farmers throughout the flood-affected areas need to plant wheat during the October/November planting season, but where and how will they get the seed? This technical note explains how CRS is helping Pakistani farmers access seed.